Christchurch strength & conditioning gym offering group training, 1-on-1 coaching, and open gym access.
Recreate Performance is a medium size strength and conditioning gym based in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) that runs group training, 1-on-1 coaching, and an open gym access. Owned by husband and wife duo Reece and Monique, they pride themeselves on the personal relationships they have with their members, and working with them to achieve their goals.
The Founders' Journey
Both Reece and Monique have always been involved in sport and fitness making their journey to Recreate Performance seem a natural one. From competitive rugby and netball backgrounds respectively, they moved into coaching and personal training (both hold qualifications here) before eventually taking the plunge into gym ownership together. The two complement each other well, with Monique running the operational and member onboarding side of things, whilst Reece handles coaching, sales, and the socials.
The Challenge
Before GymMaster, Reece was running 3 or 4 different software systems; one for billing, one for class scheduling and another for member programmes. He describes it being a nightmare. "Previously I was chasing money, chasing cash, trying to find invoices I wasn't sure if I'd sent, so having everyone housed in the one place is really really good".
People will often come to me and want to improve how they look, or want to lose a certain amount of weight, but you realise that's rarely their root motivation. It's when people end up breaking out of a bad habit, or build confidence in themselves that I find it really rewarding to be a part of their journey.
Reece McCaffrey | Recreate Performance
Why Recreate Performance Chose GymMaster
When choosing what software would be used to power Recreate Performance, it was a pretty natural decision for Reece, as he’d actually used GymMaster years earlier at another gym, and liked it back then.
"I actually used GymMaster years before I started Recreate Performance at a previous gym I was working at, and had a great experience. Because I'd had a great experience with it previously, because I knew it could do all these things in the one place already, it was a case of starting the subscription, and I've just literally never left it."
When we asked Reece specifically what he loves about GymMaster, and what sets it apart, there were a few common themes.
It handles multiple income streams. For Recreate Performance, the ability to run different service models from one platform was crucial. Reece needed to differentiate between billing for general group classes and private 1-on-1 training services, all within the same system. Adding complexity to the mix, was the fact that there are different costs incurred depending on if someone is an active member, a casual, or on a free trial. This flexibility meant he didn't have to compromise on how he structured his business. When other software companies approached him with alternatives, he quickly realised they couldn't deliver on this.
"We've had a lot of other companies come to us and say 'hey we'd love to show you our alternative software, or offer you a free trial', and as soon as I glance my eyes over it, I just see it can't do this, or that, that GymMaster is doing for me."
The personal touch matters. Reece's philosophy is different from what you'd find in most gyms. Rather than automating member re-engagement, he prefers to stay connected with his community on a human level. He values being able to reach out directly to members who haven't been in for a while, not to sell them something, but to genuinely check in. This approach sets Recreate Performance apart and has become central to how they operate.
"A lot of gyms run on 'sleepers' (i.e. people who pay but who don't attend), but we like to run the other way and check in on people and see how they are and how we can help."
The software makes this easier by giving him visibility into who's been coming regularly and who's gone quiet, so he can reach out at the right time.
It works seamlessly for class-based gyms. The booking system and reporting are game-changers for how Reece runs classes. Previously, his process was manual and time-consuming.
"Previously I used to take an actual photo of the class attendees, and then manually go through an invoice based on that. Now the software automatically does it, based on their membership type and what the class is."
Beyond just automating invoicing, GymMaster's reporting gives Reece real visibility into class performance. He can see attendance patterns, no-shows, and identify who's a regular, who's casual, and who's on a trial. The system also lets him set up awards within the platform, which keeps things fun and motivates members to achieve their goals.
Access control that actually works. Running a mixed class-based and open gym model requires smart access management, especially when the team isn't always on site. Reece explains how GymMaster handles this:
"As we're a mixture of class-based and open gym, having automatic locks allows the right people to access the gym safely, even when it's unstaffed. People check in with their key fob, and the system tracks who's in the gym at any given time. It means we've been able to cut down on front desk staffing when there are no busy classes on."
That said, Reece and Monique still prioritise being there when they can.
"We could probably cut it back even more, but as we place such a large emphasis on knowing our members, we do like to be able to greet people and be around when we can."
What Do Your Staff and Members Think?
“They love it” Reece says. The automatic access plus the streamlined admin means everything just ticks along. Members get a smooth experience, and the team isn't buried in paperwork.
Would You Recommend GymMaster?
"I have, haha! I'd recommend GymMaster to other owners, especially if they're wanting to properly have everything housed in the one place. The other thing they do better than just about anyone is the service. You pick up the phone any day, any time and you talk to a real person at their computer. They can fix things then and there, or answer my questions."
Reece has even had GymMaster team members visit to discuss improvements and roadmap ideas.
"I've even had people come out over the years to see what they can do better, and how they can improve, which is awesome. The gym and fitness industry is always changing, and it can be tough to keep up. Whenever I talk to GymMaster, I never feel like I have a silly idea, they're super open to changing the software to suit our needs which is pretty cool."
His final thought sums it up:
"I like that it's a New Zealand company who are leading at the front of software."
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